The Caged Lion eBook

There, on seats behind the throne, sat the twenty-one
jurors, Earl Douglas among them—­a new earl,
for the grim old Archibald had died in the battle
of Verneuil some months before. Angus, March,
and Mar, and all the most powerful names in Scotland,
were there; and upon his throne, in regal robes of
crimson and ermine, the crown upon his brow, the sceptre
in his hand, the sword of state held before him, sat
King James, the most magnificent-looking king then
reigning in Europe, but with the sternest, saddest,
most resolute of countenances, as one unalterably
fixed upon the terrible duty of not bearing the sword
in vain. Something of Henry’s avenging-angel
look seemed to have passed into his face, but with
far more of melancholy weight.

Walter Stewart was led into the court. He too
was a man of lofty stature and princely bearing, and
his grand Stewart features were set in an expression
of easy nonchalance and scorn; aware as he was that
of whatever he might be accused, there were few of
his judges that did not share the guilt, and moreover
persuaded that this was a mere ceremony, and that
the King would never dare to go beyond this futile
attempt to overawe him. He stood alone—­his
father and the others were reserved for another trial;
and as, richly arrayed, he stood opposite to the jury,
gazing fixedly first at one, then at the other, as
though challenging their right to sit in judgment
on him, one eye after another fell beneath his gaze.

‘Walter Stewart of Albany, Earl of Fife,’
proclaimed the crier’s voice. ‘You
stand here arraigned of murder and of robbery.’

‘At whose suit?’ demanded Walter, undaunted.

’At the suit of Malcolm and Lilias Stewart of
Glenuskie; and of Patrick Drummond of the Braes,’
returned the crier, an ecclesiastic, as were all lawyers;
and at the same moment three figures came forward,
namely, a tall knightly gentleman with gold chain
and spurs, a lady whose veil disclosed a blushing
dark-eyed face, and a slender youth of deep and earnest
countenance. ’At the suit of these here
present you stand arraigned, Sir Walter Stewart of
Albany, for having feloniously, and of malice aforethought,
on the Eve of the Annunciation of our Lady, of the
year of grace 1421, set upon the said Malcolm and Lilias
Stewart, Sir David Drummond of the Braes, Tutor of
Glenuskie, and divers other persons, on the muir of
Hetherfield; and having there cruelly and maliciously
wounded the said David of the Braes to the death; and
of having forcibly stolen and abducted the person
of the said Lilias Stewart—­’

The crier was not permitted to proceed, for Walter
Stewart broke forth, passionately addressing the jurors.
’So this is all that can be found to be laid
against me. This is the way that matters of five
years back are raked up to vex the princes and nobles
of Scotland. I am sorry for you, lords and gentlemen,
if this is the way that vexatious are to be stirred
up against those who have defended their country so
long.’